HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR FROM A2B!!

Well everyone, another year has shit the bed here at Addicted to Bicycles, may your 2009 be filled with everything you hope and wish for, but most importantly good health to keep the pedals turning! I'm off the the infamous fireworks display in Grand Rapids, Minnesoooowta this eve and then off to a BIG northern style bash at a gathering of friends where the tradition is to slide down an ice/snow covered hillside in their backyard at midnight, mostly naked, into the cattails at lakes edge, then jump in the hot tub with your fresh sawgrass wounds, all the while being next to incoherant from cocktails. I can't promise any vij of this event, but I will try my best to get some of the action, it's going to be -10 degrees as well. better tuck those nuts up.... watch out for the rocks eh?

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO PUT THE CROSS BIKES AWAY..

BUST IN THE NEW YEAR ON SATURDAY, JANUARY THIRD WITH THE

LYONS OSKAR BLUES CROSS RACE!

This from Chad Melis at Oskar Blues...as usual, he is up to some dirty rotten good in the beer and cycling world. saturday is a travel day for me otherwise I would not miss the opportunity to break in 2009 with a CX party!

"Come & ride the 2009 hangover outta your legs on January 3rd at Lyons High School with www.boulderracing.com The plan is a shortned day of just a few races during the "warm" part of the day. We're following that up with a 2008 cycling bust up party at Oskar Blues' new Banquet Barn. We'll have a simple cheap lunch and a FREE BEER with your race number.Check out the flyer HERE for all the details. Tell your friend & have a good time on the bike...come one, come all for a fun day on the bike."

ICE FISHING IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.....CHECK.

Sunset at the fish house...

Anne and Cathy my Nordic ski guides at the Joyce Reserve

You can Nordic Ski your life away up here, the choices are endless.
How can you come to Northern Minnesoowta for a mid winter vaca and NOT get the ice fishing hook-up. Well, my hostess with the mostess, Anne. C. hooked me up with a perf day of Nordic skiing out at the Joyce Estate preserve, with skiing that just blows away the Nordic experience in the Vail Valley, then hit the good ol bait shop for some Minners to go ice fish (actually ice drink) for the first time. Dave being a good sport agreed to take Elgee out to one of his triple top secret fishin holes (literal) to try and crush a walleye. I do not recall getting a bite but the beer was tasty.
Cruising on perfectly groomed trails...endless kms. Anne gliding downhill.


The beginning of the Walleye onslaught, or is that the beer onslaught?
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
"IT'S TIME FOR ICE FISHIN!"
Only one thing to do in that case, and it aint CX race.

Out at the ice house, psyched for my first ice fishing effort, Dave with the pop-up fish house and heater, hole driller (auger), bait and beer.

Rule number one of ice fishing in Northern Minnesota, you can't go home until the beer is gone, whether the fish bite is on or not.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW....

It's a pretty peaceful day here at Addicted to Bicycles. The sun is beaming and the view from the porch here in Cohasset is outstanding when the sunrises here in the hood. It's so simple it's so good. The brain actually heads backwards here. There is no worry of granite counter tops, tile flooring, the latest and biggest SUV and so on. Nobody seems to really care about keeping up with the Jonses. A killa day for a long Nordic Ski in the Great Northwood.
That's Jay Gould Lake at Sunrise...

ADDICTED TO NORDIC SKIING

The Nordic skiing scene is prettu damn sweet up here in the Grand

Rapids area...witness the Bluberry Classic from today's action...5 or 10K race loops over way fun rolling terrain at the Deer River Nordic Center..the start of the 10k race...Elgee trashed his blogging camera while night nordic skiing...she's been a good mate but will soon be retired for good.

RESPONSE TO A HOLIDAY E-MAIL FROM AN OLD FISHING FRIEND AND LEGEND, STEVE HERTER

Steve, when the hell are we going fishing? I'm currently in the great Northwoods of Grand Rapids, Minnesota hanging out with a smokin little Lass who is trying to keep me grounded. It's so simple up here, hundreds of very cool lake houses on the numerous lakes here, frozen drizzle coming down, dozens of ice fishing houses full of schnapps sucking grumpy old men trying out their new jigs which they were blessed with from Santa yesterday, and the touch of a wonderful woman who finds great adventure in hanging out without real estate selling former flyfishing ski bum from Eagle, Colorado....it's pure bliss. Staring out the picture window of her place at Little Jay Gould Lake, covered with snow and through the birch, pine and poplar...hell, I've died and gone to heaven. Last night while over at some new friends home whom I met yesterday, we drank and chatted about a bit of everything good in Cohasset. The best and loudest laugh was reserved for a story they told me of the Nativity scene which was reproduced at the local church to celebrate the Christmas spirit. The locals somhow secured a REAL fucking camel to make the scene authentic. And when the Camel exited the church when his part was over, his hump caught on the electric EXIT sign and ripped it off the damn wall. I nearly pissed myself at the visual as we were all well into the wine at that point. Spending time amongst these "regular" people is so grounding, makes me realize that the Wendy's and Larry's of the world must be living a wonderful life up there in Hayward...they just need a Camel.

A2B IS OFF TO THE FROZEN TUNDRA..HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Addicted to Bicycles is off to the Great North of Grand Rapids, Minnesota for the holiday week to go Nordic for a few days..Happy Holidays to you all! Cult Cross is just around the corner and don't forget the CX race in Lyons, Colorado on January 3rd! I'll be out of town for that one boys and girls so turn the pedals for me!

HOLY SHIT....TODAY'S SNOW REPORT

BEAVER CREEK 17 INCHES NEW
VAIL 13 INCHES NEW
WILL IT EVER STOP? IT'S STILL DUMPING.

HOLY BEJEEEEZUS, IF YOU THOUGHT WE GOT HAMMERED LAST WINTER...

IT'S BORDERING ON INSANITY AT VAIL AND BEAVER CREEK THIS YEAR, IT WON'T STOP FUCKING DUMPING SNOW. MY QUADS ARE BEGGING FOR JUST ONE DAY OFF THE SKIS, PALEEEASE!

A CRASH PHOTO SURFACES!

CLICK HERE

Renee Callaway captured one photo of the crash...check it out at this link, the guy down is the dude who took me out from behind, I'm crumpled along the fence somewhere, Renee said she had to jump back as I hit the fence so hard where she was standing it moved back into her.

"I have one photo from the crash and it isn't that great . . . I decided to jump out of the way since you hit the fence hard enough to move the fence where I was standing."

Let's play a game...it's called "name that downed rider"

AND NOW, A POST JUST FOR THE LADIES...

http://teabagsontoptubes.wordpress.com/

I hate to resort to XXX rated material to generate traffic to my blog, but with all the "heavy" crap on here the past day or so, it's time to get back to some good old fashioned sick shit. I was directed to this site several months ago by a certain Yoga Chick in the Portland area, where no CX racers are posers, and almost puked when I checked it out, but now there are some titties on there as well, and it is BIKE related, I think.

Ladies, enjoy, you may see someone you know here.

TEA BAGS ON TOP TUBES

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK, REALLY.

J DUBS (JAKE WELLS) HITS THE COVER OF MOUNTAIN FLYER MAG!

Well Wells, some of us get 15 seconds of fame, looks like JDUBS (Mafia/PBR Racing and a SQUIRT luber) has got at least a month's worth as he hits the glossy on Mountain Flyer this month (check out the interview with Jen Gersbach as well). I doubt you can find anyone who deserves it more. I mean really folks, do you remember back just three short cycling seasons when the guy was racing expert level races. Now the guy shows up at CrossVegas and last week in KC at Nat's and throws down a top 20, and this after he lost his Gall Dang front wheel (like really lost it) on lap one, he was literally last after starting 15th and faught his way back up to a 20th place finish, he was actually 18th for a bit on the last lap but was so worked from passing 80 OTHER RIDERS IN A PRO FIELD FROM THE BACK, he lost two spots, one to Steve Tilford. Not a bad sophmore season Jake. Well done.

And here is how you "lose" your front wheel in a CX Nats race. Jdubs is running top twenty on lap one, a little ricka in front of him and he has to dismount as the action backs up, somehow his front quick release gets popped open, Jake runs with his bike to get position and puts it down to remount, he looks down, NO FUCKING FRONT WHEEL! It's back in the turmoil getting pummeled by the pack, run back get wheel in scramble, get wheel back on bike, remount in last place, pass a shit pile of guys, finish top 20.....easy.

One of the best moments of Jake's year?

HERE WE GO, THE FIGHT IN KCCX 2008....

John Peterson photography Amatuer Cyclist Embarrass Springfield
by GrowUP (Subscribe)
Posted on: Dec 18, 2008 at 8:41 PM CST
Channel: Local News
Location: Kansas City
Tags:cycling cyclo-cross fight
An amateur cyclist, who is a members of the St. John's Racing team, is an embarrassment to not only the sport of cycling, but also to Springfield, MO. Cale McAninch, who is also a teacher for the Springfield Public Schools, made national headlines with his outrageous behavior at a cyclo-cross racing event. Reports state the incident began when McAninch decided to harass the third place finisher in the race during an interview and make derogatory remarks, such as "go back to Europe." When he was asked to please be respectful while the interview was taking place, McAninch got physical and damaged several thousand dollars work of custom made bike frames. This guy is an embarrassment to his team and to the entire cycling community who try to promote sportsmanship.

mia sullivan photoCale McAninch, maybe your kids teacher, dissing Jonathan Page?

There were two of these "people" running around with their shirts off during the elite race on Sunday. Basically being "fans" and annoying people who they did not know. So one of them, McAninch, gets in Jonothan Page's grill while Dave Towle is interviewing him and gets involved in a fight and gets piled into a stack of Richard Sachs team bikes. Once again, the beer boxing gloves come out and another moron learns his lesson. On top of the basic story, THE GUY IS A SCHOOL TEACHER. Nice work! Apparently there is video coming at cyclofile.com

EVER NOTICE?

That people who repeatedly tell you to "get a life", usually have pretty fucked up and boring lives? Just an observation.

ENOUGH OF ME ONE UPPIN (tough to one up when you finish 46th), HERE'S MORE OF YOU FROM KCCX 2008

this guy had the best lungs at the venue, he never stopped blowing his horn.

The Twin towers, why do these guys look like they just got caught doing something they were not supposed to? I know the face well.
ashley hudson photo
Blue Sky in the KCCX House
I think it is safe to say that the bike washing situation was one of the biggest cluster fucks of the weekend.

chika podge

men's elite podge, who picked Driscoll for the Silver? Not many.
ashley hudson photos

man down...

Andrew from CX mag reporting live on-line from the announcer's booth

Linda Wells hitting the climb on her last lap, top ten in the Country...

Brandon Dwight on his way to defending the 35-39 Title...he rode a very well managed race and kicked it with one to go...

MORE ME THEN I'M DONE WITH IT...

Ashley Hudson, owner of OUTLAW EARTH Took these shots as well as many other super good photos at KCCX. Outlaw Earth manufactures messenger bags and urban gear made in the USA. The stuff is killer good, check it out to carry in your shop or to get one yourself!Elgee pretty much Crushed beyond pedaling at this point

Myself and Doug Hudson from Feedback Sports. His sister Ashley took this pic and I much rather would have had her in the picture, but I'm thinking the Unibomber look and a Hottie may not have worked.
Many thanks to you all for the great pics and vij, yeah, I'm just and always will be a "pack filler" at these national level events, but I'm always on the podium when we talk about the "fun meter" which is all I really care about. To all the guys who wooped my ass this year, well done. To Ned Overend, well, I gave it all I had to keep from getting lapped but could not stop the Overend freight train from coming, to those of you whom I beat, wait till next year as I'm on a steady diet of fried chicken, potato chips and donuts which will bring me back to you guys next year.

the descent on lap one, I had already lost ten spots on the first climb to a bunch of those little bitty climber type dudes, and would lose more....but loved it, every pedal stroke of it.

And the high five from Greg Keller of "Mud and Cowbells" fame as I try and hold on...with Burnsy support.

All the while trying to chase The Legend, who wins going away.

PICKLES AND POWDER

Is it me or do these damn things taste so killer until you get to about the 30th slice and then you never want to eat one again?

I had to shovel four times today in Eagle, which means there is a good chance tomorrow may be a bit of a powder day, if I can get my fucking ski boots on my battered self.

The CultCross course is now under 3 feet of snow...yippeeee!

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN HAS ARRIVED IN EAGLE

I think I just woke up in last winter, but it's deeper.

SOCK AND AWE, HIT GEORGE W. IN THE FREEKIN PUSS WITH A SHOE!

http://www.sockandawe.com/

Ready for some cheap fun?

IT'S ALL ABOUT ME, ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE...

After a year and a half of managing this blog, I finally managed to get some pics of ME on a bike doing something. Thanks to Emil, J and Linda Dubs, and other miscellaneous picture takers for the photos and vij, this post is for me.

Trying to fight back into a race after the crash Getting ready for the 50+ start. Bob Pugh from Sledgehammer Charlies in North Carolina in front of me...he's a good bloke from back east.

Linda Wells all over my ass to "get on it" up the climb..

The start of the "Running away from Ned" category.This was race two for me, the first race on Thursday was when the shit hit the fan at this same point of the race. This is the speed at which I got railed into the steel fencing when two riders behind and to the right of me went down and into my rear wheel.

The first climb, which was substantial for a cyclocross race, but fair considering it was a National Championship race. Ned Overend at the front of course with Henry Kramer who gave him a run for 4 laps. I basically ran into a beehive of fast 50+ racers and although I thought I raced very well considering the circumstances, was simply outclassed on the big climb by most of the field.

Below, Ned (behind the gate marshall) passing two tangled riders near the top of the climb on his last lap, while I try and chase Ned up the hill after he lapped me about 150 yards previous to this spot. One suggestion, don't chase Ned Overend uphill near the end of the race, you will lose several years from your life.